Letter to FAA Federal Air Surgeon Susan Northrup from Sierra Lund

Pilot Sierra became injured after receiving the Covid-19 injection, at the age of 23.

Sent 1-25-2023

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Susan,

I hope this email finds you well. I am a Pilot and an Aircraft Broker. Growing up flying and obtaining my pilot’s license at 17 years old, aviation has always been a part of my life.

In September 2021 I received my first dose of the Moderna mRNA vaccine. 18 hours later I had to be taken to seek medical attention as I was having symptoms of a heart attack. After X-rays, blood work, an MRI, and numerous appointments with cardiologists it was apparent that I had developed myocarditis from the vaccination (at the age of 23). A year and a half into my diagnosis, I am unable to hold even a Third Class Medical and struggle with heart issues to this day. Unfortunately, I am not the only pilot that I personally know to have complications related to the COVID vaccine. I am thankful that my livelihood is not reliant on me holding a First Class Medical as others in my same position are not so lucky.

Being that your role is to manage medical programs and advocate for the health of all pilots when you heard talks of not only allowing but mandating pilots to get vaccinated your first and only priority should have been to shut these conversations down. Regardless of your political affiliation, personal views on getting vaccinated, or pressure from colleagues and outsiders, allowing pilots to put any substance in their body that has not had the appropriate clinical trials and abundant data to back its safety goes directly against what the FAA has always stood for in regards to holding a medical. Instead of advocating for pilots, you allowed mandates to roll out and now 90% of airline pilots are vaccinated with the same vaccine that caused me to lose my medical.

When a pilot holds a First Class Medical it means they can be trusted with the safety of the general public. The anxiety that professional pilots have when going to get routine blood work or to speak with a therapist in fear of losing their medical and subsequently their career is very real. Prior to vaccine mandates, the Aviation Community understood these rigid restrictions on medications and therapies for their physical and mental health. One year into the mandates, pilots who have passed the (very extensive) medical screening are now suffering from heart attacks and medical emergencies in the cockpit with no comments or further investigations from you or your colleagues. Since my livelihood doesn’t rely on my compliance, I feel I have a personal responsibility to tell you that has become increasingly hard to believe the health and safety of pilots is a priority for you and the FAA.

Best Regards,

Sierra Lund